With more eyes on the issues than ever before, redistricting—the process of drawing up political district borders in response to new census data—finds itself at the forefront of political discussion and debate. In New York State, several issues have arisen statewide and in specific counties that perfectly demonstrate the importance of redistricting and how it will affect the power of political parties, people of color, and whites.
The power grab has already begun and the AmNews spoke with Jeffrey M. Wice, counsel to the New York State Democratic Conference, about what it all means for the Empire State.
Last month, Nassau County Republicans shoved through plans to redistrict much of the county. Passing in a single 10-8 vote by the Nassau County Legislature, many in the African-American community believe this move will reduce their political power, leaving them with representatives operating without their interests at heart. Legislator Denise Ford was the only Republican to vote against the redistricting plan.
Conservatives claimed to have found a loophole in one ordinance that says redistricting must be done in the six months after the release of new census data. Wice told AmNews that the GOP thinking is off-base.
"The Nassau County charter calls for a redistricting every 10 years and to have it done in time for the 2013 election, not 2011," said Wice.
"Yes, there is some confusing language in the county charter that says that the new census data should be used to describe the 'old district' with the new census data. But it does not mean that the lines should be redrawn. We're only eight years into the current scheme.
"They want to lock in their majority in the Legislature in this year's election," said Wice. "They're concerned that they'll lose the majority."
This week, Nassau County legislators were notified that the Board of Elections had major obstacles ahead of them as they attempt to comply with the recently rushed legislation that created new legislative districts.
According to a memo sent to Presiding Officer and Majority Leader Peter Schmitt and Minority Leader Diane Yatauro, the typically long process would be a problem because of multiple errors in the legislation's descriptions of the boundary changes in Nassau's districts. The descriptions, known as metes and bounds, contain many mistakes that would take several months to correct.
So when should lines be ready for not only Nassau County, but the State of New York entirely?
"We anticipate having new state legislative and congressional lines done by sometime in 2012 before the next election cycle starts, and we need to have public hearings and public input," said Wice. "The process hasn't been set up yet. We expect that to happen shortly after the end of the current legislative cycle this week."
Wice told the AmNews that the key to proper redistricting lies in the ability of people of color to organize and pay close attention to the process. Ethnic minorities in New York have the most to lose or gain in the next year.
"We must recognize the diversity and change in New York State's demographic makeup and in black, Hispanic and Asian communities, and to reflect that reality in the new plan," said Wice.
"The current plan is terribly discriminatory against African American, Latino and Asian New Yorkers. You have a bias of overpopulating a few districts downstate as much as possible, and under-populating rural [more white] areas. That's got to end. We have to make sure that the 2010 Prison Gerrymandering Act is enforced."
The legislation Wice is referring to passed last year as part of the revenue bill. It states that people in prison should be counted in their home communities and not in the communities where they're incarcerated, for the purpose of redrawing district lines. With the majority of prisoners coming from downstate, this could be a significant shift in terms of power and access for people of color in New York State.
"It's very important because legislators are needed to represent the community and the people where they live," said Wice.
With the next year shaping up to be one of the most important periods in New York State's political history, Wice believes that conservatives are grasping at straws to try to maintain power. But in reality, redistricting and political power should reflect demographic changes and population growth.
"It's mind-boggling that in 2002, with the minority growth in Brooklyn, that the only new district that was created helped elect a non-minority Republican, and there was no additional opportunity for the Caribbean community to elect another candidate," said Wice.
"Rochester and Syracuse have decent black populations," Wice continued. "We need to create better districts and opportunities for minorities to elect their preferred candidates. When you look at the current map, some of the districts are all over the place and we need to give the new map an identity."
